GAME PREVIEW: AMERICANS VS PIRATES

The Portland Pirates are hoping a change in venues may bring a change of fortune.

After falling to Wilkes-Barre Scranton 6-1 on Wednesday night at the Wachovia Arena, the Pirates will try to rebound in their home away from home.

For the second time in franchise history, the Sabres AHL affiliate will play a home game at HSBC Arena, hosting the Rochester Americans tonight at 7 p.m.

This will be the first meeting between Portland and Rochester since Buffalo’s affiliation change last season.

Helping the Pirates in net is goaltender Jhonas Enroth, who was reassigned to the club Thursday morning after a short stint with the Sabres.

Netminder J.P. Lamoureux has gone 1-2 in Enroth’s absence, claiming his first AHL shutout Nov. 6 against the Hershey Bears.

Mark Mancari netted the lone Pirates goal in Wednesday’s loss, and currently leads the team with 13 points (5+8) in 15 games. Behind Mancari is Tyler Ennis who has 11 points on the year and leads the team with six goals.

Ticket prices range from $15-25, with groups of 15 or more receiving $5 off the box office price.

INJURIES: Nathan Gerbe has been out since Oct. 31 with concussion-like symptoms. Marc-Andre Gragnani suffered a leg injury last week while Felix Schutz is out with a hurt shoulder stemming from a fight and Brad Larson is recovering from a fractured foot.

The Pirates played their first game at HSBC Arena against the Albany River Rats on February 10, 2008. The game was attended by 11,144 fans, the largest crowd to ever witness a Pirates home game in franchise history.

Sabres fans can purchase Pirates’ jerseys, player t-shirts and pucks in the Sabres Store at HSBC Arena. For more information on the Pirates, visit www.portlandpirates.com. You can also listen to the radio action of Pirates hockey using the “Live Pirates Radio” listed in the Multimedia section on sabres.com or listen at WGR 550.